In a few weeks I will be training some leaders in Manta
Ecuador about Leadership. I think that
the greatest model of leadership is Jesus.
I am developing some notes/handouts for these lessons and I thought that
I would post my thoughts/notes as I prepared them. I hope that you will read/benefit and chime
in with your insights!
Establishing
Leadership Definitions
First and foremost, I truly do believe that Servant
Leadership as modeled by Jesus is the most effective and efficient type of
leadership for all institutions. Servant
Leadership isn’t just for Church. These
principles hold true in all leadership situations – for leadership is about
relationships. At its core – Leadership is
about influencing another person.
Leadership is influence.
Everyone is a leader and everyone is led by someone.
So the question is – what kind of Leader are you? What kind of leader or you to your children
or spouse? What like of a leader are
you to the kids you coach or teach? What
kind of leader are you to the people who watch you? Oh … and they will watch you – there is
always someone watching. The only way to
avoid leadership is to isolate yourself from the outside world.
Leadership can be as intimate as speaking words of guidance
and encouragement to a love one or as formal as passing instructions along
extended lines of communication in and organization. Leadership can be nurturing character and
self-worth in children and promoting great intimacy and fulfillment in personal
relationships, or it can involve distributing resources in an organization to
reach a specific goal or accomplish a given task.
Essentially there are two types of leadership - Life Role
Leadership and Organizational Leadership.
Life Role leaders often are enduring relationships: parents, spouses, siblings, friends,
etc. Organizational Leadership operate
for a season and may come and go: jobs,
supervisors, co-workers, etc. (Lead Like Jesus)
Most of the significant leadership that shapes lives does
not come from leaders with titles, it come from leaders in life role relationships.
Paul wrote: “Follow
my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 11:1
Two important questions:
- Who are you following?
- Where are you leading those who are “following/watching/learning from” you?
Next: What is the Difference Between Jesus Leadership and other Leadership?
